When will I receive my admission decision?

If you applied before January 15
You will receive you admission decision and any financial aid offer in February 2019.

If you apply between January 16 - June 25, 2019
You will receive your admission decision and any financial aid offer within 4-6 weeks (if seats are still available in your program)

How can our admissions team help you?

Our admissions officers are available to assist you at every stage of the process, from choosing a program that fits your background and career goals, to completing your application package, as well as guiding you through student visa and relocation matters if you accept an offer to join one of our programs.

Tell us where you are in your application process to jump to a list of topics:

Meet our admissions team in a city near you!

Where you are just starting your grad school search or have already applied to one of our programs, our admissions officers will be delighted to meet you in any of the cities where we travel to recruit Master's students.

We have upcoming stops planned in several cities in Europe, Latin America, and Russia.

Additional tour dates will be announced throughout the year. You can also contact us to book a campus tour if you are in Barcelona.

I want to know more about your programs.

Which program is right for me?

We offer three Master's Degrees at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. Each degree has its own specialized programs of study. When you apply, you will indicate the specific program you wish to enter. You will also have the option to add (in order of preference) a second and third choice program on the same application.

Master Degree in Data Science

All Barcelona GSE Master's Degrees have been recognized by the Catalan and Spanish Education authorities within the framework of the Bologna Process (in Spanish, “Master Universitario o Master Oficial”). Indicadors de qualitat (in Catalan)

Do I meet the entry criteria?

At the Barcelona GSE we look for excellence and talent. Key elements of a strong application are a high GPA, a sound statement of purpose and a standout reference letter. Strong knowledge in Economics and good quantitative skills are also recommended.

Application requirements:

An undergraduate/bachelor/grado/laurea, or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university (for Bologna degrees, a minimum of 180 ECTS are required).

A typical applicant would hold a University Diploma in Economics, Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or Business Administration. See our Student Profile for more detailed information.

An advanced level of English language skills: TOEFL score of 90 or better / IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5 or better

Not required but highly recommended:

GRE General Test

Note that the fulfillment of the application requirements does not guarantee admission. Candidates will also be evaluated on the following admission criteria:

Outstanding academic record

Quantitative skills

Reference letters

Tuition fees and financial aid

Tuition Fees

Fees cover registration, teaching, use of the UAB and UPF facilities, and first entry into examinations. Fees are subject to change and may vary by program. Please refer to the individual programs for specific tuition fees.

Financial Aid

All financial aid is awarded based on academic merit in competition with all other candidates. Every applicant is considered for all available financial aid opportunities. Financial aid at the Barcelona GSE may consist of:

Full or partial tuition waivers

Waivers are reductions of 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% on tuition fees. All students, including those awarded a tuition waiver, must pay a 1000€ reservation fee to confirm their place in the program.

Scholarships

Thanks to the participation of a number of companies and institutions, the Barcelona GSE is able to offer a number of tuition waivers and fully-funded scholarships based on academic merit. These highly competitive financial awards help the School attract the best and brightest international students.

Teaching Assistantships (TA)

A small number of teaching assistantships will be awarded to students in the Economics and Finance Programs. These positions are competitive and available to a limited number of top students. TAs are responsible for 30 or 60 hours of teaching (distributed flexibly throughout the year), plus other duties.

Give yourself an advantage: apply before January 15

Candidates who apply before January 15 will be considered for all financial aid that is available for this intake. Those who apply after January 15 will be considered for remaining financial aid that has not already been allocated to candidates who applied before the January deadline. To increase your chances of receiving an offer of financial aid, submit your application before January 15.

I'm ready to apply.

Gather your application materials

Undergraduate transcripts

If you don't have an official transcript yet when applying, you may upload an unofficial copy. However, all accepted students must submit official transcripts during course registration in September, before the academic year begins.

Undergraduate diploma

If you are applying before having completed your undergraduate program, you will need to to upload a signed letter stating that you commit to graduating before you begin your master's program at the Barcelona GSE

Copy of your passport

Curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)

Statement of purpose (700 words maximum)

Proof of English language proficiency

Unless you are a native English speaker or have done your undergraduate degree at an English-speaking university, you must provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores or certificates. If you are not yet in possession of one of these language certificates, we suggest you wait to apply until you can fulfill this requirement with the documents required.

Applicants to all programs are encouraged to provide the scores of the GRE General Test, which are often an important element for admission decisions.

A good GRE result is particularly helpful to candidates who have a bachelor in social sciences or other undergraduate degree without a strong quantitative component. In previous years, the GRE score has helped directors to identify candidates with excellent potential but little previous exposure to serious mathematical training. Hence we strongly encourage candidates to submit a GRE.

Barcelona GSE institution code for GRE General Test: 2531

Choose two referees

During the online application process, we will ask you for the names and contact information of two referees who are willing to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. At least one of the referees should be a teacher or professor. The two signed letters must be uploaded directly to the online application system by your referees. Your application is not considered complete until both letters have been uploaded.

Before starting your application process, we advise you to contact both referees to let them know about your intention to apply to our programs. Just after you submit your application, we will contact them via email with instructions on how to proceed.

You must notify your referees and remind them to check their email for the instructions.

Letter format suggestions

Referees must include their full name, work address, and email, and they should include your name in the body of the letter. Letters should be submitted on official letterhead and signed by your referees.

Your referees should evaluate you based on the following criteria:

Intellectual ability

Research abilities/experience

Motivation to face challenges

Capacity to work in groups

Propensity to thrive in new environment

Complete the online application form

All programs share one online application form. When you create your application, you will have the option to list up to three programs, in order of your preference. You may submit only one application, with up to three program choices, per academic year.

There is an application fee of 60€ (non-refundable). Most major credit card and bank transfer options are available.